Fun Hand Lettering Tips + My Favorite Tools!
Have you ever stared at a blank page, brush pen in hand, wondering how to get those perfect, swoopy letters? Well, I’ve been there too! So, I’m sharing some quick hand lettering tips to help you on your lettering journey, plus my favorite tools to support your creative process!
Lettering Tips to Try Today:
Light upstrokes, heavy downstrokes – This is the golden rule of brush lettering! Use a light touch when moving your pen up and press down on the downstrokes for that classic effect. Be mindful when transitioning through curves with your pen. 🖌️
Slow it down – If you’ve watched my videos, you know I say this all the time! Beautiful lettering isn’t rushed. Take your time forming each letter—speeding through it might get you to the end faster, but it won’t be the ending you wanted!
Keep practicing – You’ve probably heard this before, but it’s true! You can only develop your own style by drawing your letters every chance you get. Spend a few minutes on simple strokes, and practice when you write your name, address an envelope, or jot down the date in your journal! ✍🏽 As a matter of fact, I have a free video to help you get started. Part I of my Brush Lettering Basics Series is on YouTube.
My Must-Have Hand Lettering Tools:
I get a lot of questions about my favorite lettering supplies, so here are a few that I absolutely LOVE and use all the time!
Brush Pens I Swear By – These beginner-friendly brush pens are my go-to recommendations for both online and in-person workshops. They have a hard tip, fudenosuke-style brush that helps ensure you are intentional about each stroke.
Dot Grid Notebook – I almost exclusively use dot grid notebooks because they’re perfect for drawing, journaling, planning, or lettering. They help keep your letters even and your layouts balanced. I ALWAYS have one with me.
Brush Lettering Basics Workbook – A fantastic reference for letter shapes and composition! My workbook includes my tips, tricks, and even more recommendations. You can download it once and practice as many times as you like.
Join the Creative Fun on Patreon!
For exclusive lettering practice sheets, behind-the-scenes content, and monthly creative challenges, check out my SophistiCreator Patreon Tier—I’d love to have you there! Plus, I just uploaded the monthly Brush Lettering Practice Sheet and Video for this month, available for both Elegant Artisans and SophistiCreators.
Happy lettering and see you soon!